There is a solid nine-game NBA slate for us to compete in on Friday night. High-priced studs in favorable matchups are a little hard to come by on this slate, so it has me taking a look at the next level of players to build around in my cash game lineup. Of course, we need to be constantly checking for injury news and late scratches to help find the value on the slate but there are already a solid mid-priced group of players that will benefit from the information we already have.

Note that some of the stats referenced in this article are my custom DvP calculations that combine both season and last five games data along with blending similar positions production allowed together.

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One Stud

Kemba Walker (PG – CHA): $9,200 vs. NY
As I mentioned in the intro, I’m paying down for my “one stud” of the night. This spot was a tossup between Kemba and Nikola Jokic ($9,400) and I’d love to roster them both if enough value comes into the slate. I’ll give Walker the edge if you can only roster one of them. He has averaged over 55 DraftKings points in his last two games while putting up 28.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists in those two outings. Walker gets a plus matchup against the Knicks who have allowed increased production in points (+9.8%) and assists (+11.4%) to PGs this season and Walker put up 25 points, six rebounds and six assists in their first meeting this season for 50.5 DK points.

Core Plays

Damian Lillard (PG – POR): $8,500 vs. TOR
Lillard may seem like an odd selection given that he has a tough matchup against the Raptors. However, Lillard usually gets up for these marquee PG matchups like against Kyle Lowry in a game that should be close. In two games against Lowry and the Raptors last season, Lillard topped 30 points in both meetings while averaging over 50 DK points.

Enes Kanter (C – NYK): $7,100 @ CHA
Kanter has scored at least 32 DraftKings points in four of his last five games and gets a favorable matchup on Friday night at home against the Hornets. The Hornets have been crushed by opposing big men this season allowing increased production in points (+7.2%) and rebounds (+8.5%). Kanter is almost a lock for the double-double bonus.

Marcus Morris (SF/PF – BOS): $6,500 vs. ATL
With Al Horford out the last few games, Morris has stepped up his production along with his minutes for the Celtics. Over his last three games, Morris is averaging 23.3 points and 7.3 rebounds for 38 DK points. Horford will miss another game on Friday in a favorable matchup against the Hawks. The Hawks have given up increased production across the board to opposing forwards.

Serge Ibaka (PF/C – TOR): $6,300 @ POR
Ibaka has had a solid season so far and could take his game to another level now that Jonas Valanciunas will miss at least a month. Ibaka should log heavy minutes a center in Valanciunas’ absence. He has also been on a roll recently putting up at least 43 DK points in three straight games while averaging 22.3 points and 9.0 rebounds during that stretch. Ibaka’s matchup against the Blazers on Friday could also yield some hidden production as they have allowed significant increases in steal and blocks by opposing big men this year.

Value Plays

Juan Hernangomez (SF/PF – DEN): $4,700 vs. OKC
Hernangomez continues to log huge minutes for the Nuggets, especially now that Paul Millsap will be out for an extended period of time. He has played at least 36 minutes in four straight games and while the fantasy production has some peaks and valleys, I’ll take my chances on a guy getting that amount of court time at a reasonable salary every time. Hernangomez draws a decent matchup on Friday against the Thunder who have allowed small increases in points, rebounds, assists and steals to PFs this season.

JaMychal Green (SF/PF – MEM): $4,600 vs. MIA
Outside of one dud game, Green has put up at least 28 DraftKings points five of his last six outings which is over six times his current salary. As the Grizzlies do in almost every matchup that will get some increased pace in their game against the Heat on Friday night. Green gets just a neutral matchup against Miami but that should be good enough for him to put up another solid score for is low salary.

Kevin Huerter (SG/SF – ATL): $3,900 @ BOS
With a variety of injuries for the Hawks, Huerter has played 36 minutes in each of the last two games. While he doesn’t post eye-popping numbers, he has averaged 13.5 points, 3.0 three-pointers and 1.5 steals in those games. His salary remains under $4k for a tough matchup against the Celtics but he doesn’t need to do much to pay off his low salary.

Furkan Korkmaz (SG/SF – PHI): $3,800 vs. IND
The use of Furkan is 100 percent dependent on the status of Jimmy Butler for the Sixers matchup with Pacers on Friday. If Butler plays, then just cross Korkmaz off your list. However, if Butler misses another game, then Korkmaz is almost a must-play. He played 35 minutes in the last game with Butler out and put up 18 points, three rebounds and six assists. Korkmaz also scored 18 points two games ago when Butler originally got hurt in the first quarter. So, watch the Butler news closely.

Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay and GoingFor2. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.